🔀 For Everyone

Sabah Protected Areas 2026 — 30% TPA, All Parks Listed

Q: What is TPA and how is it calculated?

TPA (Totally Protected Area) refers to the strictest conservation categories: National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves where extractive use (logging, hunting) is prohibited. Sabah's 2.23 million hectares of TPA is calculated by summing all gazetted protected areas under these classifications. The 30% target (achieved Feb 2026) means 30% of Sabah's land is under strict protection — a global conservation benchmark.

Q: Can visitors enter all protected areas?

No. National Parks (Kinabalu, Crocker Range, TAR Park, Tun Sakaran, Turtle Islands) welcome day visitors and tourists. Wildlife Sanctuaries and Conservation Areas (Danum Valley, Maliau Basin) restrict access — Danum Valley is research-only; Maliau Basin requires permits. Some protected areas prohibit entry entirely. Always check with Sabah Parks or the managing agency before planning a visit.

Q: Which parks allow research?

Primary research sites: Danum Valley Conservation Area (Cardiff University research station), Kinabalu Park (Sabah Parks research programs), Tabin Wildlife Reserve (limited research access). Research permits are required and must be arranged through Sabah Wildlife Dept and the park authority. Academic institutions can apply for long-term research visas.

Q: How does the Heart of Borneo connect to Sabah's protected areas?

The Heart of Borneo is a tri-national conservation zone (22M hectares across Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) established in 2007. Sabah is a signatory and has committed land within this initiative. Many of Sabah's protected areas overlap with or contribute to Heart of Borneo goals: forest connectivity, wildlife corridors, watershed protection. The initiative supports transnational conservation beyond individual park boundaries.

Q: What is a buffer zone and why is it important?

A buffer zone is a semi-protected area surrounding a core protected area, where limited sustainable use (eco-tourism, selective logging) is allowed to create a transition between pristine reserves and heavily developed land. Buffer zones reduce edge effects (hunting pressure, invasive species spillover) and improve habitat connectivity. Many of Sabah's parks have formal buffer zones with agreed management rules.

Q: Are there private conservation areas in Sabah?

Yes. Danum Valley is a privately owned conservation concession (Yayasan Sabah, a state foundation). While private, it functions as a research and conservation area with strict protection policies and limited public access. Other private reserves and eco-lodges operate with conservation easements. Private conservation complements government-managed parks.

Last updated: 11 April 2026

Aerial view of protected rainforest landscape showing pristine canopy

ℹ️ The quick answer

Sabah has 28+ gazetted protected areas covering 2.23 million hectares (30% of land) — a historic milestone achieved February 2026. Parks include Kinabalu (UNESCO World Heritage), Crocker Range, Danum Valley, Tun Sakaran Marine Park, and more. Land TPA: 30%+ | Marine protected area: 1.4M hectares. Managing agencies: Sabah Parks, Sabah Wildlife Dept, Sabah Forestry Corporation, SEAFDEC.

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2.23M ha

Total TPA

30% of Sabah

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~1.8M ha

Land TPA

30%+

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1.4M ha

Marine PA

sea areas

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National Parks

main parks

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UNESCO sites

Kinabalu recognition

✅

Achieved

30% target

Feb 2026

Top 10 Protected Areas by Size in Sabah

Tun Mustapha Park (marine, 898,300 ha) is the largest protected area. Maliau Basin and Danum Valley are the largest terrestrial conservation areas.

Source: Sabah Parks, Sabah Forestry Dept, Sabah Wildlife Dept

Sabah\u2019s Conservation Milestone: 30% TPA Achieved

In February 2026, Sabah officially achieved 30% Totally Protected Area (TPA) coverage — the global conservation benchmark for biodiversity protection. This milestone makes Sabah the first Malaysian state to reach 30% TPA, protecting 2.23 million hectares of land and marine ecosystems.

Historic conservation achievement

30% TPA Achieved (Feb 2026) — Sabah\u2019s commitment to conservation places it among the world\u2019s leading regions for habitat protection. This includes 80% of the Bornean orangutan population living in protected forests and establishes Sabah as a model for Asian conservation.

Major Protected Areas

Protected Area Management by Agency

Multiple agencies manage Sabah’s protected areas. Sabah Parks oversees main national parks; Wildlife Dept manages wildlife sanctuaries; Forestry manages forest reserves.

Source: Sabah Parks, government agencies

Key terrestrial parks:

Kinabalu Park (754 km², est. 1964): Triple UNESCO recognition (World Heritage 2000, Biosphere Reserve 2014, Geopark 2023). Mount Kinabalu summit. 4,000+ plant species. Most visited park.
Crocker Range Park (1,399 km², est. 1984): Sabah\u2019s largest terrestrial park. Biosphere Reserve. Mountain range, cloud forest, low visitor numbers but excellent for trekking.
Danum Valley Conservation Area (43,800 ha): Primary rainforest research station. UNESCO recognition for conservation model. Research-only access. Cardiff University partnership.
Maliau Basin Conservation Area (~58,800 ha): Sabah\u2019s "Lost World" — pristine lowland forest. Limited permits for exploration. UNESCO landscape-level conservation site.
Tawau Hills Park (280 km², est. 1979): Home to Menara, the world\u2019s tallest tropical tree (100.8m, measured 2019).

Key marine parks:

Tun Sakaran Marine Park (35,000 ha, est. 2004): 15 islands, 78 dive sites, 528 reef fish species, 255 coral species.
Tun Mustapha Park (898,300 ha, est. 2016): Malaysia\u2019s largest marine park. Includes Mantanani Islands, seagrass beds, whale shark sightings.
Turtle Islands Park (1,700 ha, est. 1977): Malaysia\u2019s largest turtle rookery. Green and Hawksbill turtles. Limited visitor access.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (4,900 ha, est. 1974): Five islands off Kota Kinabalu (Manukan, Sapi, Mamutik, Sulug, Gaya). Day-trip destinations. 3,500+ fish species in waters.

Aerial view of Maliau Basin "Lost World" showing pristine lowland rainforest bowl — Maliau Basin — "Lost World" pristine forest

Kinabalu Park cloud forest trail through lush montane vegetation — Kinabalu Park — cloud forest and alpine zone

Tun Sakaran Marine Park islands and turquoise reef waters from above — Tun Sakaran Marine Park — island cluster & reef

Timeline of Gazettement

New Protected Areas Gazetted per Decade Since 1960s

Sabah has steadily expanded protected area coverage. The 2010s–2026 period saw major expansions (Tun Mustapha 2016, 30% TPA 2026).

Source: Sabah Parks, Sabah Wildlife Dept historical records

Conservation Strategies

Wildlife Corridors: Ulu Segama Malua (UNESCO model) connects fragmented forests, allowing species migration and genetic exchange across 550,000 hectares.
Ramsar Wetlands: Lower Kinabatangan & Segama (79,000 ha) — Malaysia\u2019s largest Ramsar site. Critical for proboscis monkeys, elephants, and 203 bird species.
Research & Monitoring: Long-term studies at Danum Valley, Kinabalu Park, Danau Girang track population trends and ecosystem health.
Community Conservation: Indigenous communities and local stakeholders involved in habitat management, anti-poaching patrols, sustainable livelihoods.
REDD+ Finance: Carbon finance programs (e.g., Katingan Mentaya reference project) fund forest protection and community development.

Frequently asked questions

Q What is TPA and how is it calculated?

TPA (Totally Protected Area) refers to the strictest conservation categories: National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves where extractive use (logging, hunting) is prohibited. Sabah's 2.23 million hectares of TPA is calculated by summing all gazetted protected areas under these classifications. The 30% target (achieved Feb 2026) means 30% of Sabah's land is under strict protection — a global conservation benchmark.

Q Can visitors enter all protected areas?

No. National Parks (Kinabalu, Crocker Range, TAR Park, Tun Sakaran, Turtle Islands) welcome day visitors and tourists. Wildlife Sanctuaries and Conservation Areas (Danum Valley, Maliau Basin) restrict access — Danum Valley is research-only; Maliau Basin requires permits. Some protected areas prohibit entry entirely. Always check with Sabah Parks or the managing agency before planning a visit.

Q Which parks allow research?

Primary research sites: Danum Valley Conservation Area (Cardiff University research station), Kinabalu Park (Sabah Parks research programs), Tabin Wildlife Reserve (limited research access). Research permits are required and must be arranged through Sabah Wildlife Dept and the park authority. Academic institutions can apply for long-term research visas.

Q How does the Heart of Borneo connect to Sabah's protected areas?

The Heart of Borneo is a tri-national conservation zone (22M hectares across Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) established in 2007. Sabah is a signatory and has committed land within this initiative. Many of Sabah's protected areas overlap with or contribute to Heart of Borneo goals: forest connectivity, wildlife corridors, watershed protection. The initiative supports transnational conservation beyond individual park boundaries.

Q What is a buffer zone and why is it important?

A buffer zone is a semi-protected area surrounding a core protected area, where limited sustainable use (eco-tourism, selective logging) is allowed to create a transition between pristine reserves and heavily developed land. Buffer zones reduce edge effects (hunting pressure, invasive species spillover) and improve habitat connectivity. Many of Sabah's parks have formal buffer zones with agreed management rules.

Q Are there private conservation areas in Sabah?

Yes. Danum Valley is a privately owned conservation concession (Yayasan Sabah, a state foundation). While private, it functions as a research and conservation area with strict protection policies and limited public access. Other private reserves and eco-lodges operate with conservation easements. Private conservation complements government-managed parks.

Sources & References 5 sources

Last verified: 11 April 2026